Dispenser assembly for stand-alone ice making appliance

Abstract

An ice making appliance includes a casing, a user interface on the casing, a container within the casing, and a dispenser assembly coupled to a front surface of the container. The dispenser assembly includes a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly is configured to dispense a specified amount of ice, and operated, the dispenser assembly, excluding the front portion, remains either completely inside of the container or completely outside of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a user interface on the casing;   a container within the casing;   a reservoir disposed within the casing;   an ice maker disposed within the casing;   a dispenser assembly coupled to a front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice,   wherein, when operated, the dispenser assembly, excluding the front portion, remains either completely inside of the container or completely outside of the container,   wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly comprises a lever extending from the front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a compartment configured to hold the specified amount of ice,   wherein the compartment is configured to receive the specified amount of ice by gravity, and wherein the compartment is configured to hold the specified amount of ice within an internal volume of the ice making appliance,   wherein the dispenser assembly comprises a bucket rotatably coupled to the lever extending from the front surface of the container, the container defining an opening to the bucket of the dispensing assembly, the bucket defining the compartment configured to parcel the specified amount of ice for dispensing.   
     
     
         2 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket defines a back wall configured to rotate into the opening of the container while the lever of the dispensing assembly is rotated, dispensing only the specified amount of ice. 
     
     
         3 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the bucket comprises a spout wall, wherein the spout wall is convex shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the back wall of the bucket is concave shaped, wherein an internal volume between the spout wall and the back wall defines the compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket is positioned at a base wall of the container. 
     
     
         6 . An ice making appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a user interface on the casing;   a container within the casing; and   a dispenser assembly coupled to a front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice,   wherein, when operated, the dispenser assembly, excluding the front portion, remains either completely inside of the container or completely outside of the container,   wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly comprises a lever extending from the front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a compartment configured to hold the specified amount of ice,   wherein the compartment is configured to receive the specified amount of ice by gravity, and wherein the compartment is configured to hold the specified amount of ice within an internal volume of the ice making appliance,   wherein the dispenser assembly comprises a rotary scoop rotatably coupled to the lever extending from the front surface of the container via a ratchet arm, the rotary scoop defining a plurality of compartments, the rotary scoop configured to parcel the specified amount of ice in each respective compartment of the plurality of compartments for dispensing.   
     
     
         7 . The ice making appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising a ramp extending from the front surface of the container, the rotary scoop rotatably ejects ice down the ramp when operated. 
     
     
         8 . The ice making appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of compartments of the rotary scoop are positioned circumferentially around the rotary scoop. 
     
     
         9 . The ice making appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of compartments of the rotary scoop comprises at least four compartments spaced circumferentially apart by about ninety degrees. 
     
     
         10 . An ice making appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a user interface on the casing;   a container within the casing; and   a dispenser assembly coupled to a front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice,   wherein, when operated, the dispenser assembly, excluding the front portion, remains either completely inside of the container or completely outside of the container,   wherein the dispenser assembly comprises an auger rotatably coupled to a handle extending from the front surface of the container, wherein a flighting of the auger defines a volume, the volume configured to parcel the specified amount of ice for dispensing.   
     
     
         11 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the flighting of the auger is configured to parcel the specified amount of ice relative to a specified degree of turning the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The ice making appliance of  claim 11 , wherein a chute is positioned beneath the handle at the front surface of the container, the auger configured to dispense ice out of the chute.